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$195 Find cheap flights from San Jose to Costa Rica

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Jose to Costa Rica departing on 7/27. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Fri 7/12
Fri 7/19

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Best Costa Rica Flight Deals

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

San José
San José1 stop$373
Liberia
Liberia2 stops$400

Good to know

Low season

October

High season

December

Cheapest flight

$195
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 5% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 56% increase in price.
Flight from San Jose to San José

FAQs - booking Costa Rica flights

  • What travel documentation should I know about before I board my flight to Costa Rica?

    Any traveler making a trip to Costa Rica for a great vacation does not need to get a visa so long as you don't plan on staying for more than 90 days, but you will need to show the immigration authorities your return plane ticket. You will also need a valid passport when flying to Costa Rica, and your passport needs to be valid the entire time you are in Costa Rica.

  • I am planning on renting a car in Costa Rica. What are the child car seat laws I should know about when driving here?

    Every child traveling in a car in Costa Rica that is up to 12 months old needs to ride in a car seat that faces to the rear. If they are between 12 months and four years old, the car seat needs to face forward. After that, children up to 12 years old need to travel in a booster seat or a booster cushion.

  • Is there any way for me to get freshened up at the San José Juan Santamaria International Airport after a long flight?

    This airport offers showers inside of the terminal building that are free of charge to travelers and make a great way to get freshened up after a long flight.

  • Are there any hotels that have a location right at the San José Juan Santamaria International Airport?

    There are several hotels that have a location right at the entrance of the airport property, and some of them include the Hyatt Place San Jose Airport and the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott San Jose Airport.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Jose to Costa Rica?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from San Jose to Costa Rica.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Jose to Costa Rica?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Costa Rica from San Jose is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from San Jose to Costa Rica?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Costa Rica with an airline and back to San Jose with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Jose to Costa Rica?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Costa Rica from San Jose up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Costa Rica

  • Morning departure is around 17% cheaper than an evening flight, on average*.
  • When people want to fly from San Jose to Costa Rica, they often fly to the San José Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Choosing this route, you will find one-stop flight offerings aboard United Airlines and Delta Airlines from San Jose Airport (SJC).
  • One of the most convenient ways to get to the San Jose Airport from downtown San Jose without having to drive your own car is to travel aboard the bus and train lines operated by Santa Clara VTA, which offers service from downtown to the airport in around 12 minutes.
  • If you're looking for a comfortable place to wait for your flight to Costa Rica at the San Jose Airport, consider one of The Club SJC locations at the airport that not only offers plenty of comfortable seating but also quite a few food and beverage options as well as some entertainment options.
  • For travelers planning on driving their to the San Jose Airport and looking for parking options, the airport offers quite a few different choices, with several lots right at the airport terminal building. A more cost-effective solution is to choose Economy Lot One that offers a much lower rate on a per day basis and has a shuttle service to the airport terminal buildings.
  • For nursing mothers traveling from the San Jose Airport, you'll be happy to know that this airport offers five different nursing room locations at gates 8, 18, 21, 24, and 26. Each of these rooms has a very comfortable chair as well as a changing station, power outlets, and a sink.
See more tips
*Average of the lowest prices shown in KAYAK’s search results for departures within the next 30 days

Top 5 airlines serving from San Jose to Costa Rica

Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Jose to Costa Rica? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 9269 reviews
7.3Food
8.2Boarding
8.6Crew
7.9Comfort
7.3Entertainment
Airline reviews

Soda cans were mini-size; snacks were teeny. Options for entertainment on trans-continent flights were bad - no seat screens and no way to support device (as seen on other airlines) so had to hold device in position. Just overall, not good (compared to United)

6.0 Goodkaren, Jun 2024LAX - IAD
Read more about Alaska Airlines reviews

Soda cans were mini-size; snacks were teeny. Options for entertainment on trans-continent flights were bad - no seat screens and no way to support device (as seen on other airlines) so had to hold device in position. Just overall, not good (compared to United)

I like the big picture of the Eskimo on the tail of the plane.

Everything was great but there were no entertainment options available.

Flight was delayed 2 hours. It was too cold inside the cabin. My seat mate had no jacket so she was shivering the entire flight. The stewardess says there’s no available blanket.

The plane had to sit on the tarmac for 45 minutes once it had landed. Not Alaska’s fault.

No prob with entertainment-would have selected n/a if it had been an option. No entertainment-flight was only a short hop. Great flight,

I love having assigned seats and being able to check bags at the gate, if needed. Both are super-helpful when traveling with a toddler!!!

It was really good and that's why we choose AA over other airlines.

Seats are uncomfortable but let room was adequate. The snack is pretty weak and the staff not particularly friendly.

Flight was cancelled just before we boarded. I had to stayed an extra night in SF and arrived one day late. Also I had to flight back JFK and not Newark since they didn't have flight to Newark until very late the following day. A real bad experience on this flight. It took me 2 days to get back home.

There was plenty of overhead room but half of the passengers were told they had to check their carryon bags. My partner and I checked in as early as possible and our seats were split across the aisle.

Flew first class so everything was great. But maybe because the flights were red eye, no meals were served, just chips. I flew Alaska Air 1st class at 9PM (2 hour flight) and they served beef short rib sliders!

There was a loud squeaky sound the whole time we were flying.

I didn’t not like that I could not select my seat and ended up with the worse seat.

The landing was bad and the hostess came two times and i was sleeping but when she served the person that nexts to me I woke up and she didn’t even asked me if I need any drink or snacks two times!!!!

Plane was late because of a mechanical malfunction and the food listed as available was not. Flight attendants seem over worked and under paid. They just done seem happy. And that can be seen in their faces.

Waited 3 hours on a plane to de-ice due to manpower issues. Waited another hour and a half once we landed because of a gate issue. Missed my connections. Created. A total of 13 hours of delay.

Great, on time departure, friendly and accommodating crew, great leg room, Smith flight

Plane was turned around due to fog half way into the flight, Delta did not properly direct passengers to stay on same flight and instead failed to properly rebook on Alaska

Honestly, I didn’t expect that I will experience this long time wait during the check in. There was only one person who was taking care of the passengers for the economy class and it took us to wait about one hour to do our check i. As a result we barely get to the airplane as the gate was at the end of the airport. That is totally not professional where one crue is working at the registration desk with economy and 3-4 crues are helping for the business class.

No water for a 5 hour flight entertainment not working seats with little room for knees when person in front of me reclined kept bumping my knees.

I don't think anyone actually reads these comments, so I won't spend much time on this submission. If you want to talk, you know how to reach me. The D/FW manager of Avianca (self-identified), Juan Calderon, insisted I buy an onward ticket from San Salvador even though I have diplomatic status in El Salvador and live here. It cost me $1,393 and Mr Calderon would not let me make the ticked flexible so I could get a refund. He went out of his way to be rude to me. He gave me seat 32K -- windowless window seat in the last row and did not offer to let me upgrade even though there were plenty of seats. I have flown well over a million miles in my life and this is the worst experience I have ever had. I would like a refund on the ticket I was forced to buy. Just awful!

This is the Spirit of Latino travel. And don’t even get me started on customer service.

Awful. I checked in online and there was no option to pay for baggage, at the airport when I checked in my baggage was received and Iwas not charged. When I got to LA during the boarding process I was told I didn't pay for baggage, the crew resolved I was let in the plane. When I got to my final destination my baggage was not there. It took me two days to receive my baggage. Bad service ever!

There was no food or drink service, couldn’t even get a glass of water for free. It was a long and expensive flight to not offer food or beverage on the plane.

It is better at the jfk than my home country. It was very easy and everything was on time.

There is no food. There is no in-inflight entertainment. The seats are cardboard. The airline is a living hellscape.

My experience was amazing! They helped my elderly mother board on early through a wheelchair and were accommodating to have us sit together since our seats were in different locations. When landing at the airport in GUA they were very helpful with full of hospitality.

No complimentary snacks food, beverage (not even water), pillow and blanket on a 6 hours long flight (including economy comfort). A low form of nickeling an diming. Lost a recurring passanger over a soda. Avianca never again.

Flight departure late. Got late in Colombia making us take a different flight next day. Avianca airport crew messed up my ticket so when a I got in Brazil I didn’t have a ticket for my destination. Had to buy a new ticket out of my pocket.

The entertainment wasn’t playing in the app or online.

Why does it have to be painful to fly long distances?

Horrible, the flights kept delaying, so it is obvious that we won't be able to make it to the next connection. No easier/real agent on site to help you figure this out. UA agent on other counters refuse to assist you and direct us to use the QR code/call customer service. So inefficient and poor. While technology seems convenient, but it's not the best interest/experience for customers need help while there is active issue need assistance.

Food is very bad and entertint not too many options ... flight attendet service is not good

Everything was pretty good except for food. They need to improve on it compared to other airlines.

Flight was delayed due to the late arrival of the catering truck, which is quite unacceptable. There was a beverage service, but no pretzel, or cookie, or nuts were served in coach.

I had a great flight. Everything went smoothly and the flight arrived early.

Aisle chair was good and liked the foot bar preventing you from putting your foot in the isle, The breakfast on this international flight to Zurich was horrible (Europeans, specially, used to good food) may make this a dealbreaker for booking with United Airlines again. I agreed with my Spanish fellow passenger.

On time take off…US cabins look tired and need of refresh!

Backpack should NOT allowed put in the flight bin , only put it under the seat. I can't find space put my carry on luggage!!! and I pay for it ! that was very bad experience

The flight was delayed several times without explanation. The seats were terribly uncomfortable and wifi isn’t included. All these make for a less than ideal flight.

Internet service was erratic. Crew service was poor and slow. My luggage on this non-stop flight was lost and not recovered

Flight was 1/2 hour delayed leaving Phoenix. Otherwise it was an average flight. Flight crew on this trip was very nice.

Horrible - they lied to me about baggage & boarding, even though I specifically spoke to their agents the day before my flight about my issue. When I showed up they did not let me board and stranded me at my airport until I bought a new flight with money I did not have to spend.

Not sure why JAL partnered with American Airlines because their service is no where near similar. Flight attendants were not friendly and didn’t smile. Food was horrible…

The experience was great and much better than the flight going out. of course I was in first class but the service was excellent

Comfort of seats, ease of boarding. Food selection could be better

Food options were limited which is absolutely embarrassing for a Flight of this size The staff did not come around as much and I am not accustomed to such poor service from American Airlines Drinks I believe were limited to soda and water

Crew were attentive and friendly. Flight was smooth and early! I enjoyed the less crowded plane. Thank you!

We are gluten free, there were not any available complimentary gluten free options.

Book cheap flights from San Jose to Costa Rica

Recent round-trip flight deals

8/25Sun
1 stopDelta
12h 28mSJC-SJO
8/30Fri
2 stopsDelta
20h 57mSJO-SJC
$373
8/25Sun
1 stopDelta
12h 28mSJC-SJO
8/30Fri
1 stopDelta
23h 00mSJO-SJC
$378
11/2Sat
2 stopsAmerican Airlines
27h 33mSJC-LIR
11/6Wed
2 stopsAmerican Airlines
20h 57mLIR-SJC
$400
11/2Sat
1 stopAmerican Airlines
31h 28mSJC-LIR
11/6Wed
1 stopAmerican Airlines
21h 27mLIR-SJC
$415
6/26Wed
3 stopsSpirit Airlines
29h 45mSJC-SJO
7/1Mon
3 stopsSpirit Airlines
32h 25mSJO-SJC
$439
6/26Wed
3 stopsSpirit Airlines
29h 45mSJC-SJO
7/2Tue
2 stopsSpirit Airlines
23h 30mSJO-SJC
$444
11/3Sun
1 stopUnited Airlines
19h 29mSJC-LIR
11/14Thu
1 stopUnited Airlines
10h 08mLIR-SJC
$455
11/3Sun
2 stopsUnited Airlines
19h 33mSJC-LIR
11/14Thu
2 stopsUnited Airlines
15h 52mLIR-SJC
$459
8/14Wed
1 stopAlaska Airlines
12h 45mSJC-SJO
8/19Mon
1 stopAlaska Airlines
28h 23mSJO-SJC
$479
8/13Tue
1 stopAlaska Airlines
12h 45mSJC-SJO
8/19Mon
1 stopAlaska Airlines
28h 23mSJO-SJC
$495

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Recent one-way flight deals

7/27Sat
2 stopsAmerican Airlines
29h 44mSJC-SJO
$195
9/14Sat
2 stopsDelta
17h 47mSJC-LIR
$197
7/21Sun
1 stopUnited Airlines
12h 26mSJC-SJO
$210
7/24Wed
2 stopsUnited Airlines
26h 03mSJC-SJO
$216
6/24Mon
2 stopsSpirit Airlines
19h 05mSJC-SJO
$230
7/9Tue
2 stopsSpirit Airlines
40h 47mSJC-SJO
$270
7/21Sun
3 stops
17h 41mSJC-SJO
$273
7/22Mon
1 stopAlaska Airlines
12h 45mSJC-SJO
$277
6/30Sun
1 stopAlaska Airlines
13h 15mSJC-LIR
$278
7/21Sun
2 stops
26h 00mSJC-SJO
$282

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Last minute flights from San Jose to Costa Rica

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

6/16Sun
multi-stopSpirit Airlines
26h 35mSJC-SJO
7/1Mon
multi-stopSpirit Airlines
25h 50mSJO-SJC
$649
6/16Sun
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
16h 41mSJC-SJO
7/1Mon
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
19h 45mSJO-SJC
$680
6/16Sun
multi-stopUnited Airlines
10h 03mSJC-SJO
7/1Mon
multi-stopUnited Airlines
29h 11mSJO-SJC
$705
6/15Sat
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
24h 30mSJC-LIR
6/21Fri
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
13h 19mLIR-SJC
$862
6/15Sat
multi-stopUnited Airlines
19h 45mSJC-LIR
6/21Fri
multi-stopUnited Airlines
22h 50mLIR-SJC
$870
6/15Sat
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
24h 30mSJC-LIR
6/21Fri
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
16h 59mLIR-SJC
$882
6/13Thu
multi-stopDelta
13h 12mSJC-SJO
6/17Mon
multi-stopDelta
10h 35mSJO-SJC
$951
6/16Sun
multi-stopCopa Airlines
20h 10mSJC-SJO
6/20Thu
multi-stopCopa Airlines
35h 25mSJO-SJC
$1,027
6/15Sat
multi-stopCopa Airlines
17h 00mSJC-SJO
7/6Sat
multi-stopCopa Airlines
14h 29mSJO-SJC
$1,255
6/13Thu
multi-stopDelta
12h 57mSJC-SJO
6/17Mon
multi-stopDelta
10h 35mSJO-SJC
$1,275

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San Jose - Costa Rica Flights

Departure:

San Jose (SJC)United States

Return flight deals:

Costa Rica - San Jose

Cabin classes: